Luke Laird. Photo: Spencer Combs
After 24 No. 1 songs, Grammys, ACMs, and multiple other honors, lauded songwriter/producer Luke Laird released his first-ever album today (Sept. 18).
In a project aptly titled Music Row, the hit-maker behind monster country hits including Carrie Underwood’s “So Small,” “Temporary Home,” and “Undo It”; Eric Church’s “Drink in My Hand,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” and “Talladega”; Little Big Town’s “Pontoon,” Kenny Chesney’s “American Kids,” Lady A’s “Downtown,” Jon Pardi’s “Head Over Boots,” and many more, Laird finally tells his story of how a kid from Hartstown, Pennsylvania made it on Music Row, where he has made a lasting mark on country music.
When the idea came up for him to put out his own music, Laird says support from his wife, and Creative Nation CEO and Co-Owner, Beth Laird, sealed the deal.
“Every time I write something, I’m always happy for anybody else to cut it,” Laird says. “But I realized I started having this collection of songs that were more personal. A few of them I wrote just to write, and then once I realized I had a few that were more personal, then I focused on writing for myself.
“Beth suggested [making an album]. She said, ‘Why don’t you just make an album so these songs can actually get heard?’ That was really all the encouragement I needed.”
The title track shows Laird’s affinity for the magic of Music City and country music.
“For me, the first time I came [to Nashville], I had never seen anything like it,” Laird says. “Even the actual physical music row, thinking about all these writers that I grew up to admire and are kind of my heroes, that I’m doing the same thing they were doing in a little house on music row, writing a song. There’s just something to me that’s really cool about that, and to get to continue to be a part of that tradition is really neat.”
Laird wrote every song with no co-writers, other than “Branch On The Tree,” which he wrote with Barry Dean and Lori McKenna, which makes for a deeply personal chronicle of Laird’s life and career. Perhaps the most strikingly personal song is “That’s Why I Don’t Drink Anymore,” a pain-tinged song of hope to recover from addiction.
“I played that song one night at the Bluebird. It was the first time I played it out and this young lady came up to me, she’s a Belmont student and she had tears in her eyes and she was like, ‘I love that song so much. It makes me think about my dad. Do you have a copy of that?’ Of course at the time, I didn’t. I actually went home that night and made a work tape of it and I got her email and sent it to her. When it came time to choose songs for the album, it was pretty much a no brainer [to include the song]. I thought of that one experience and thought, ‘I wonder if there’s anybody else that can connect to it,'” Laird says.
Another profoundly personal song on the record deals with Laird’s grief after losing his childhood best friend.
“I think about what you’d be doin’ right now, your kids and my kids, they’d be hangin’ out. They’d be laughing about the clothes we wore and how much root beer we drank on your mama’s porch,” Laird sings.
While the record skillfully covers darkness, it also effortlessly sheds light on the many bright spots of Laird’s life. The charming, breezy “Hangin’ Out” tells the story of the Creative Nation power couple, from their early days, to building the beautiful life they have now. “Jake and Mack” further tells that story, in a love letter to the couple’s sons.
Photo: Spencer Combs
“Why I Am Who I Am” sums Laird’s childhood, the family he made, and his contentment. “The truth is I’m a product of a lot of love,” Laird sings, believably.
The project concludes with an ode to the music that has enriched his life and given him a career, in “Country Music Will Never Die.” The opening verse in the tune gives an ode to ’90s country, Laird’s favorite genre.
He continues to pay his respect to ’90s country on his new Apple Music Radio show, Country Replay Radio, where he helps listeners rediscover their favorite country hits from the ’90s to now while diving into the stories and songwriters behind those songs.
“Doing the radio show, it’s like when you write a song, you take yourself back into being a fan again. When you turn on the radio, what do you like to listen to?” Laird says. “That’s a little different than when you’re just sitting in a room, trying to come up with a great line. But playing songs for an hour on the radio, you do that a little differently than if you’re just sitting in a writing room. And believe me, I have so much more respect for real radio personalities at this point because I’m like ‘Oh my goodness, I’m so green. But it really has been a lot of fun.”
Read more of this interview in the upcoming MusicRow print issue.
Luke Laird Funnels Honesty, Gratitude, And Admiration For ‘Music Row’ Into Debut Record
/by LB CantrellLuke Laird. Photo: Spencer Combs
After 24 No. 1 songs, Grammys, ACMs, and multiple other honors, lauded songwriter/producer Luke Laird released his first-ever album today (Sept. 18).
In a project aptly titled Music Row, the hit-maker behind monster country hits including Carrie Underwood’s “So Small,” “Temporary Home,” and “Undo It”; Eric Church’s “Drink in My Hand,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” and “Talladega”; Little Big Town’s “Pontoon,” Kenny Chesney’s “American Kids,” Lady A’s “Downtown,” Jon Pardi’s “Head Over Boots,” and many more, Laird finally tells his story of how a kid from Hartstown, Pennsylvania made it on Music Row, where he has made a lasting mark on country music.
When the idea came up for him to put out his own music, Laird says support from his wife, and Creative Nation CEO and Co-Owner, Beth Laird, sealed the deal.
“Every time I write something, I’m always happy for anybody else to cut it,” Laird says. “But I realized I started having this collection of songs that were more personal. A few of them I wrote just to write, and then once I realized I had a few that were more personal, then I focused on writing for myself.
“Beth suggested [making an album]. She said, ‘Why don’t you just make an album so these songs can actually get heard?’ That was really all the encouragement I needed.”
The title track shows Laird’s affinity for the magic of Music City and country music.
“For me, the first time I came [to Nashville], I had never seen anything like it,” Laird says. “Even the actual physical music row, thinking about all these writers that I grew up to admire and are kind of my heroes, that I’m doing the same thing they were doing in a little house on music row, writing a song. There’s just something to me that’s really cool about that, and to get to continue to be a part of that tradition is really neat.”
Laird wrote every song with no co-writers, other than “Branch On The Tree,” which he wrote with Barry Dean and Lori McKenna, which makes for a deeply personal chronicle of Laird’s life and career. Perhaps the most strikingly personal song is “That’s Why I Don’t Drink Anymore,” a pain-tinged song of hope to recover from addiction.
“I played that song one night at the Bluebird. It was the first time I played it out and this young lady came up to me, she’s a Belmont student and she had tears in her eyes and she was like, ‘I love that song so much. It makes me think about my dad. Do you have a copy of that?’ Of course at the time, I didn’t. I actually went home that night and made a work tape of it and I got her email and sent it to her. When it came time to choose songs for the album, it was pretty much a no brainer [to include the song]. I thought of that one experience and thought, ‘I wonder if there’s anybody else that can connect to it,'” Laird says.
Another profoundly personal song on the record deals with Laird’s grief after losing his childhood best friend.
“I think about what you’d be doin’ right now, your kids and my kids, they’d be hangin’ out. They’d be laughing about the clothes we wore and how much root beer we drank on your mama’s porch,” Laird sings.
While the record skillfully covers darkness, it also effortlessly sheds light on the many bright spots of Laird’s life. The charming, breezy “Hangin’ Out” tells the story of the Creative Nation power couple, from their early days, to building the beautiful life they have now. “Jake and Mack” further tells that story, in a love letter to the couple’s sons.
Photo: Spencer Combs
“Why I Am Who I Am” sums Laird’s childhood, the family he made, and his contentment. “The truth is I’m a product of a lot of love,” Laird sings, believably.
The project concludes with an ode to the music that has enriched his life and given him a career, in “Country Music Will Never Die.” The opening verse in the tune gives an ode to ’90s country, Laird’s favorite genre.
He continues to pay his respect to ’90s country on his new Apple Music Radio show, Country Replay Radio, where he helps listeners rediscover their favorite country hits from the ’90s to now while diving into the stories and songwriters behind those songs.
“Doing the radio show, it’s like when you write a song, you take yourself back into being a fan again. When you turn on the radio, what do you like to listen to?” Laird says. “That’s a little different than when you’re just sitting in a room, trying to come up with a great line. But playing songs for an hour on the radio, you do that a little differently than if you’re just sitting in a writing room. And believe me, I have so much more respect for real radio personalities at this point because I’m like ‘Oh my goodness, I’m so green. But it really has been a lot of fun.”
Read more of this interview in the upcoming MusicRow print issue.
Jamie O’Neal Unveils Track List, Guests On New Album ‘Sometimes’
/by Lorie HollabaughJamie O’Neal is offering a little throwback fun to fans with the release of her first album since 2014, Sometimes, due out Oct. 16. Released via BFD/Audium Nashville, the new album includes some re-imagined versions of O’Neal’s hits like “There Is No Arizona 2.0,” a new duet featuring Lauren Alaina, released today, as well as some brand new tracks.
The project also includes O’Neal teaming up for duets with John Paul White (“Someone’s Sometimes”), Martina McBride (“When I Think About Angels”), Sara Evans (“Trying To Find Atlantis”) and O’Neal’s daughter Aliyah Good (“Somebody’s Hero”).
“The first time I sang ‘There Is No Arizona’ with Jamie, in Vegas around the ACM’s, I was amazed at how well our voices worked together,” recalled Alaina to People.com. “She is an amazing singer and it was fun to harmonize with someone like that. When she asked me to sing on a new version of the song with her, I jumped at the chance. I’m so proud to be a part of such an iconic country song.”
Fans can look forward to the video for “Wreck Me” dropping Sept. 22 on CMT.com.
SOMETIMES Track List:
1. Wreck Me
2. There Is No Arizona 2.0 with Lauren Alaina
3. Closer To Closure
4. Someone’s Sometimes with John Paul White
5. Somebody’s Hero 2.0 with Aliyah Good
6. Spin The Bottle
7. Jealousy
8. Trying To Find Atlantis 2.0 with Sara Evans
9. Sometimes It’s Too Late
10. Prettiest Wreck
11. When I Think About Angels 2.0 with Martina McBride
12. The World Goes On
New Downloads Of TikTok, WeChat To Be Banned In The U.S., Beginning Sept. 20
/by Jessica NicholsonBeginning Sunday, Sept. 20, the following transactions are prohibited:
As of Sept. 20, 2020, for WeChat and as of Nov. 12, 2020, for TikTok, the following transactions are prohibited:
The move implements the executive orders the Trump administration announced last month.
“Today’s actions prove once again that President Trump will do everything in his power to guarantee our national security and protect Americans from the threats of the Chinese Communist Party,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “At the President’s direction, we have taken significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data, while promoting our national values, democratic rules-based norms, and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations.
“While the threats posed by WeChat and TikTok are not identical, they are similar. Each collects vast swaths of data from users, including network activity, location data, and browsing and search histories. Each is an active participant in China’s civil-military fusion and is subject to mandatory cooperation with the intelligence services of the CCP. This combination results in the use of WeChat and TikTok creating unacceptable risks to our national security,” a statement from the Department of Commerce continued.
According to the same statement, President Trump has provided until Nov. 12 for the national security concerns to be resolved.
TikTok’s parent company, the Chinese-owned ByteDance, is currently negotiating an agreement with the Treasury Department to sell ownership of the app’s U.S. operations, with Oracle reportedly earning the winning bid.
Rascal Flatts Celebrates 20 Years With New Greatest Hits Collection
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 20-song collection of the trio’s biggest and most sentimental smashes throughout the years offers fans a chance to look back on the group’s career journey, and includes 13 of the trio’s 17 No. 1 singles from “These Days” and “Fast Cars And Freedom,” to “Bless The Broken Road,” “My Wish” and many more.
“When we were putting together the tracklisting for this it was an emotional but nostalgic feeling getting a chance to look back during this anniversary year,” said Flatts member Gary Levox about the collection. “We hope that our fans feel the same way when they listen to it. This release and this year as a band is all a huge thank you and celebration for them.”
TWENTY YEARS OF RASCAL FLATTS THE GREATEST HITS Track List:
1. “I’m Movin’ On”
2. “These Days”
3. “Bless The Broken Road”
4. “Fast Cars And Freedom”
5. “What Hurts The Most”
6. “Life Is A Highway”
7. “My Wish”
8. “Stand”
9. “Take Me There”
10. “Here Comes Goodbye”
11. “Why Wait”
12. “I Won’t Let Go”
13. “Easy (featuring Natasha Bedingfield)”
14. “Banjo”
15. “Come Wake Me Up”
16. “Changed”
17. “Rewind”
18. “Riot”
19. “I Like The Sound Of That”
20. “Yours If You Want It”
Weekly Radio Report (9/18/20)
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.
Tyler Childers Addresses Systemic Racism On Surprise Album, ‘Long Violent History’
/by Jessica NicholsonTyler Childers
Kentucky native Tyler Childers released a surprise album on Friday morning (Sept. 18), Long Violent History, via RCA and Tyler’s Hickman Holler Records.
The nine-track album is mostly made of fiddle standards, including “Squirrel Hunter,” “Midnight on the Water,” and more, but it is the closing title track that packs a punch, as the Americana star offers up an original song, crafted in the style of an old-time fiddle tune, that addresses systemic racism.
Now what would you give, if you heard my opinion/Conjecturing on matters that I ain’t never dreamed/In all my born days, as a white boy from Hickman/Based on the way that the world’s been to me. It’s called me belligerent, it’s stuck me for ignorant/But it ain’t never once made me scared just to be./Could you imagine, just constantly worrying/Kicking, and fighting, and begging to breathe.
Childers also released a video explaining the title track and how it shaped the album.
“Back in June when I wrote the song Long Violent History, it was my original goal to continue to make fairly legible sounds on fiddle, and put this album out with no announcements or press,” he explains in the video. “I planned to package it as an old-time fiddle album, and let the piece make the statement on its own, taking the listener by surprise at the end. However there has been concern that the album could run the risk of being misinterpreted if not given some sort of accompanying explanation to set it in context. A writer can write an essay, but the writer can never predict, or control how that essay is interpreted by the reader, be it in a tone of level-headed calmness, or preachy, holier-than-thou, condescending way.”
All net profits from the album will benefit the Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund.
The album follows 2019’s Country Squire, his 2017 breakthrough Purgatory and the 2013 indie release Bottles and Bibles. Childers was named Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2018 Americana Honors & Awards, and was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at this year’s Grammy Awards for “All Your’n.”
3rd & Lindsley Announces Oct. 1 Reopening
/by Jessica Nicholson“After 30 years of operations the thought of opening again and trying to rebuild our business with a third of the capacity and implementing all the new safety protocols is a steep hill to climb,” the venue said in a statement. “However, we are working diligently to do everything possible to reopen as safely as we can.”
Ketch Secor will lead his Folk City residency at the venue for one show each month, beginning Oct. 1, with additional shows on Nov. 5, Dec. 3, and Jan. 7, 2021. The venue will also partner with The Bluebird Cafe for “Bluebird On 3rd,” a four-week series starting Oct. 8 that showcases both established Nashville songwriters and rising newcomers.
On Sept. 20, 3rd & Lindsley will host a live, full-band, no audience webcast with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram as part of the Nashville Sunday Night series.
DISClaimer Singles Reviews: Trisha Yearwood, Chrissy Metz, Chapel Hart, And More
/by Robert K OermannTrisha Yearwood
It’s a ladies’ day here at DISClaimer.
Both the Disc of the Day and the DISClaimer Award are claimed by female acts. Trisha Yearwood rules the roost with her gorgeous ballad “I’ll Carry You Home,” which she introduced on last night’s ACM telecast.
The DISCovery du jour is Chapel Hart. This is a trio of two sisters and a cousin who are from Mississippi, but began their career as street performers in New Orleans before heading to Music City. Their “Jesus and Alcohol” debut single is a sheer delight.
All of which is not to say that we don’t have worthy male contributors. In fact, Tyler Braden gave Chapel Hart excellent competition for the DISCovery honor. Elsewhere, we have dandy new sounds from Jerrod Niemann, Terry McBride, Brandon Ratcliff and Scotty McCreery.
CHRISSY METZ/Feel Good
Writers: Chrissy Metz/Nicolette Hayford/Connie Harrington/Aaron Raitiere/Jake Mitchell; Publisher: none listed; Producer: none listed; EMI
-This light, softly sung ditty is meant to empower women, to inspire positivism. It has a pleasant, wafting vibe that goes well with its message of looking up, taking care of oneself and getting happy. It goes along with her new Walmart clothing line.
RITA WILSON/What Would I Say
Writers: Rita Wilson/Jesse Frasure/Shane McAnally; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Jesse Frasure; Sling It Loud/Orchard
– Her alto vocal is compressed and muffled.
TRISHA YEARWOOD/I’ll Carry You Home
Writers: Gordie Sampson/Caitlyn Smith/Troy Verges; Publisher: Bughouse/Music of Stage Three/Songs of Cornman/Dash8/Songs of Universal; Producer: Garth Fundis; Gwendolyn/Pearl
-One of our greatest voices wedded to a truly inspirational song. I love how she begins this in a gentle, tender mode, then gradually builds to her magnificent, full-throated vocal majesty before ending in a soft, loving audio embrace. A brilliant piece of work.
SCOTTY MCCREERY/You Time
Writers: Scotty McCreery/Frank Rogers/Aaron Eshuis; Publisher: none listed; Producers: Frank Rogers/Aaron Eshuis/Derek Wells; Triple Tigers
-Upbeat and romantic, this has a lot going on for it. As always, he’s a country beacon.
JERROD NIEMANN/Tequila Kisses
Writers: Jerrod Niemann/Lee Brice/Jon Stone; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Jerrod Niemann; JN
-Kinda boozy, kinda drawling, kinda groovy. Especially with the multiple stacked vocal harmonies and the stratospheric, airy atmosphere. The Beach Boys have nothing on this little beauty. This guy always turns in quality work.
INGRID ANDRESS/Don’t Start Now
Writers: Emily Warren, Ian Kirkpatrick, Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Sam Ellis; Warner/Atlantic
-It’s a Dua Lipa pop cover. Nicely done, but what’s the point?
TERRY MCBRIDE/Callin’ All Hearts
Writers: Luke Laird/Terry McBride; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Luke Laird; INgrooves
-Look out, boys, she’s a heart breaker. The spare, bopping production puts the spotlight squarely on his country vocal and the solidly crafted lyric. Simple but highly effective.
TYLER BRADEN/Love is a Dead End Road
Writers: Tyler Braden/Chase Rice/Brock Berryhill; Publishers: Warner Chappell/Sony ATV, no performance rights listed; Producer; none listed; Warner
-A country boy gets his heart busted when the gal he thought was The One, turns out not to be. This newcomer sings with enormous feeling and just the right blend of power and ache. He sounds like writer to be reckoned with, too. I’m in.
KEITH URBAN & P!NK/One Too Many
Writers none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: none listed; Capitol Nashville
-There’s no denying the star power. But the pop song does nothing for me.
CHAPEL HART/Jesus and Alcohol
Writers: Danica Hart, Devynn Hart, Trea Swindle; Publisher: HyperPhlyy Music; BMI; Producer: Jeff Glixman; CH
-Fabulous. This ridiculously catchy item is loaded with humor and harmonies. The group is country’s first Black female trio. The lead guitar is provided by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. The ultra-cute video features cameo appearances by T. Graham Brown and Deborah Allen. Colorful and contagious, this is absolutely a 100% hillbilly winner.
BRANDON RATCLIFF/Sometimes Always Never
Writers: Brandon Ratcliff/A.J. Babcock/Walker Hayes; Publisher: none listed; Producers: Pete Good/Shane McAnally; Monument
-The title tune of Ratcliff’s debut EP is a light, poppy, choppy ditty held together by his highly engaging, youthful tenor-to-falsetto vocal delivery. Very, very listenable. It says here that he has accumulated over 50 million streams to date.
TIDAL And Oculus Partner To Bring Live, Immersive Concerts Straight To Fans’ Homes
/by Lorie HollabaughTIDAL and Facebook’s virtual reality platform Oculus are joining forces to bring live, immersive, and intimate music performances straight into people’s homes in the Venues app, available on the Oculus Quest and on TIDAL. Later this year, TIDAL and Oculus will livestream a series of immersive concerts with some of the biggest names in music.
TIDAL and Oculus will provide viewers with a re-imagined live performance experience that feels as though you are standing in the crowd with other fans. As everyone continues to practice social distancing, TIDAL members and nonmembers alike can enjoy front row access to exclusive performances that are available in virtual reality in the Venues app and in 2D video and high quality audio on TIDAL. All performances will be available simultaneously in Venues and TIDAL.
“At a time when livestreamed performances are seen as the new norm, TIDAL’s partnership with Oculus provides music lovers an elevated concert experience with more interaction and dimension than past livestreams. Oculus is revolutionizing the live music experience and matched with TIDAL’s HiFi audio quality, members will be able to remember what it feels like to stand in a large crowd at a concert venue,” said Lior Tibon, TIDAL COO.
ACMs Dominate Wednesday Night, But Ratings Slip
/by Jessica NicholsonWhile 6.59 million viewers was enough for the Academy of Country Music Awards to dominate its timeslot, it fell significantly short of last year’s ratings.
This year, the show moved from its usual April airing to September, and aired from Nashville for the first time, incorporating performances and awards presentations from three iconic venues—The Bluebird Cafe, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Ryman Auditorium.
On April 7, 2019, the Academy of Country Music Awards drew 9.9 million viewers over three hours (and a 1.6 rating in the 18-49 demo), which was down nearly 18% from 2018’s 12.06 million viewers.